CARY, NC -- Vendgogh LLC, a provider of integrated gas island vending solutions, and WilcoHess LLC, an operator of travel plazas and convenience stores in the southeastern U.S., announced a partnership to pioneer gas-island vending at selected WilcoHess locations.

The companies plan to install Vendgogh's vending solutions directly on the WilcoHess gas islands. The vending machines are integrated with WilcoHess' point-of-sale systems to offer gas customers, who don't routinely go into the store, the opportunity to purchase allied products near the pump. With a single swipe of their credit card, customers will be able to purchase cold drinks when they refuel.

"This partnership is all about convenience," said Larry Lytle, WilcoHess vice-president of marketing. "It will help us enhance the customer experience for our gas-only customers and bring an unprecedented level of convenience to the gas island."

Lytle said the partnership will mark the first installation of its kind anywhere in the U.S.

Up to 70% of convenience store customers buy only gas at the gas island, and do not enter the store, research indicates. The agreement between Vendgogh, headquartered in Cary, NC, and
WilcoHess is designed to help bring the store to those gas customers and improve their overall buying experience. The initial installations are expected to be completed by March and will feature the top-selling cold drinks from the respective WilcoHess store locations.